Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Review

Revisiting an old favorite, we review the Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Syrah, 5% Malbec and 7% other red varieties from Columbia Valley, Washington State.

The wine is aged 24 months in 20% new oak barrels, 46% neutral oak barrels, and 34% stainless steel tanks.

The Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet has an SRP of $17 but can be found for as low as $12.

From the bottle:

Since 1967 the dedicated winemakers at Chateau Ste. Michelle have transformed the finest grapes into some of the most spectacular wines in the world.

Rich with red fruit flavor, the complexity and structure of this Cabernet Sauvignon remains delectable at every sip – especially when paired with beef, game, or burgers.

Average Analysis per 5oz
Calories: 121
Carbohydrates: 4.0g
Protein: 0.0g
Fat: 0.0g
Less than 1g sugar per 5oz glass

Cellared and Bottled by Chateau Ste. Michelle
13.5% Alcohol

This wine used to be a staple for us but we haven’t tried it in several years. I still find it pretty amazing they can pull off 24 months in mostly oak barrels (and 20% new) for just $12. Let’s check it out.

The 2021 Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a very attractive and distinctive aroma (which isn’t easy to do at this price) of black cherry, a little blackberry, some nice spice and a touch of a smoky note.

Tasting the wine reveals a smooth, soft mouthfeel and similar flavors to the nose. It’s not as oaky as some of the other vineyard designate bottlings which helps makes it more easily accessible. This is a crowd pleaser that would go great with a burger.

It ends dry and long on the pleasing finish and was just as good on day 2. This is still quite good and continues to offer tons of value.

Looking for more of the Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $25? Check out our giant list!

This one also gets a spot in our list of the best wedding wines.